Tomorrow Thursday May 18th 2023 is International Museum Day. International Museum Day is a day celebrated by museums across the globe annually and is coordinated by the International Council of Museums. The main objectives of the day are: to provide awareness about the fact that museums play an important role in our society, provide an opportunity for museum professionals to meet and interact with the public, alert the public in regards to the challenges that museums face, and to promote dialog between museum professionals. Each year the International Council of Museums choses a theme, this year’s theme is “Museums, Sustainability, and Well-Being”. This year marks the 46th year as the first International Museum Day was held in 1977.
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Victoria Belle Hennan was born on the 10th of December 1886 in Roland, Manitoba, Canada to Mr. Hennan and Dorothy Catherine Hennan (nee Armstrong). She was one of six children and was a nurse by trade. While she was born in Manitoba, she was currently living in Ernfold, Saskatchewan (near Morse). Victoria enlisted in the Canadian Army Medical Corps (C.A.M.C) on the 1st of January 1918 in London, England. At the time of her enlistment, she already had previous military service as she served one year with Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Nursing Service as a Staff Nurse (at a military hospital in Nottingham, England). Upon enlistment, Victoria was described as being roughly thirty years of age, five foot seven inches tall, and weighing about 162 pounds.
After having been taken on strength of the Canadian Army Medical Corps, Victoria was posted to the Canadian Army Medical Corps Depot. The next day she was posted from the Canadian Army Medical Corps Depot to the No. 9 Canadian General Hospital located at Shorncliffe (near Cheriton, Kent). From the 12th to the 28th of August that year she was granted some leave but sadly, not long after having returned from leave, Victoria fell ill. She would be admitted to the No. 9 Canadian General Hospital (the same hospital she was posted to) on the 22nd of October 1918. She was listed as being dangerously ill, suffering from influenza and pneumonia. Sadly, she would pass away at 0840 hours the following day. It was determined that she was a victim of the ongoing “Spanish Flu” pandemic that was spreading across the globe. She was only 31 years old. On the 26th of October 1918, Victoria was buried in Plot M, Grave 694 at Shorncliffe Military Cemetery in Kent, England. Her military marker is inscribed “Beloved daughter and sister who answered the call of country and honor remembered with love”. Loving words chosen by her mother Dorothy. For her service to Canada, Victoria was posthumously awarded the British War Medal. Her mother Dorothy, would be awarded the Memorial Cross for the loss of her daughter and would be the recipient of her medal and her plaque and scroll (Serial No. 808955). In addition to being commemorated in perpetuity at the Shorncliffe Military Cemetery, she is commemorated on page 427 of the First World War Book of Remembrance held and displayed at the Peace Tower in Ottawa. Page 427 is displayed every year on 13th of September. Her mother Dorothy would later move to Elkhorn, Manitoba. Victoria’s brother James, a veterinarian by trade, also served in the Canadian Military during the Great War. As a veterinarian by trade, he served in the Canadian Army Veterinary Corps. Griffin, J. Charles, WW1 Military Record Search: N.S. Hennan, Victoria Bell (Morse, Saskatchewan: Morse Museum and Cultural Centre, 2023). |